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Moments in Time by Larner	17 Review(s)
Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 5/19/2008
Are you doing MEFAs this year? If so, and if this hasn't already been nominated, I think it deserves one. It's brilliant. I'm not done with the membership process yet (and not particularly looking forward to all this right now either), but I've decided to do the yahoo thing whatever it takes this year, and finally have it all cleared up so that I can return the kindness I've had lavished on me for the last two or three years, and I'd love to nominate this one if someone else hasn't already got it (which wouldn't surprise me one bit). :) God bless, Galadriel P.S. "By Ship or Grave" deserves one as well, especially as I'm told they're looking for good poems, and that one is your best. Author Reply: Doing MEFAs? Yup--ten stories nominated to date. "The Lost Restored" was among the first nominated, actually. And I'm so honored you think so highly of "By Ship or Grave." It's not been nominated as of last evening, at least. But there are some truly wonderful poets about. So glad you liked this!

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 4/5/2008
It was fascinating to see events from Gollums viewpoint and moving too.I liked it as well you gave a plausible explanation of the rescue and how Aragorn was waiting. Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked this, Linda. Gollum, in his own way, earned his redemption; and although he took the Ring again at the end, he wasn't taken BY It as Frodo had been. The Creator was able to use his own probable actions to save all in the end. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 3/31/2008
Oh, wow, what an incredibly moving tale, Larner. My friend and I have often talked about the third eagle being for Gollum and this just captured that whole scene beautifully. Then to see his ultimate restoration - to both his family and, most importantly, to his Atar, was wonderfully done. The final reunion between Smeagol and Frodo was nicely told and I found it moving that Frodo had finally found peace with himself and could fully accept everything that had happened. Thank you for sharing this with us, it was truly a picture of 'those who are lost being restored', and thank you for dedicating it to me! :) Author Reply: The third Eagle being intended for Gollum, if he could be found, of course, was often a topic of discussion on TORn when I was active there; and so many wonderful fanfics have been written on the topic--I've seen at least three. Tolkien decided over time that Frodo's stay on Tol Eressea would be a Purgatory experience for him, allowing him to come to terms with himself and his experiences with the Ring and life, including his love/hate relationship with the Ring itself. That in time he would see the loss of his finger as a fitting reminder that he was loved as much because of his flaws as in spite of them just seems right. It would be a part of "polishing his Light of Being," I'd think. There are limits to what any one of us can do, after all; and our personal lacks and weaknesses allow others to shine as they put their complementary gifts and talents to work to assist us with what we cannot do--or cannot do WELL--for ourselves. For the too-responsible Frodo to accept he wasn't all-capable must have been galling before his healing. And I wished this to be a thanks for all the beautiful wallpapers and good wishes and encouragement you've sent me over the years. Thanks again--and again!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 3/30/2008
Oh, I love the idea that some of the Valar and Maiar were there, if unseen, aiding in caring for the Hobbits. Very sensible of Aragorn and Gandalf not to tell Frodo and Sam about the more indignified details of their illness! It would be terribly embarassing. Intriguing look at Sméagol after his death, how he reacted to his family and the others, how he, after losing his Gollum side (if I can call it that) saw his faults and felt remorse, could accept forgiveness. Eru showed him how all the others treated him friendly, even if he didn’t admit it even to himself when it happened, and it is good that he finally could admit this – I think it was the first step to healing. The only one thing I can say about Frodo’s musings and his discussion with Eru is: Listen to Atar, Frodo! He’s right – you did everything you could do and even more than that! (Not that this stubborn Baggins would believe it ...) The end was lovely! Somehow it is comforting that Frodo and Sméagol were finally able to meet without It’s bad influence between them and to find peace. This story is very powerful, Larner, and a masterpiece, too. Author Reply: Thank you so, Kitty! I think that at the moment Frodo was struggling with the power of the Ring within the Sammath Naur the whole host of Heaven as well as those who'd entered into Arda were lined up to fight Its power as well; and now that Frodo is freed from Its enslavement they are still there to guard him and all others who'd been most strongly assaulted by evil. Smeagol sees Gandalf and Aragorn laboring to ease Frodo and Sam--and now is able to remember that they did not totally demean him, and that much of their anger he earned fairly due to his own behavior. Without the Ring there to filter all actions through Its own antagonism he can finally see the gentleness and caring offered him. And I so hope that the lost Stoors were able to join Lindelea's Feast as well! And who more than Frodo would welcome Smeagol and wish to thank him! Thank you indeed, Kitty. And may we all accept the Love offered us!

Fiondil	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 3/30/2008
I had to read this a second time before I could put any thoughts down that would seem even halfway coherent. This is probably one of your best pieces, Larner. I'm like Námo, a real sucker for happy endings and redemption stories are my favorite simply because they give me hope that my own poor choices in life have some redeeming value to them, even if I can't (or won't) see them. I loved it that it was Eönwë who walked beside Aragorn. That is so cool! I thought it interesting that Sméagol still speaks of himself in the third person at first. He sounds like a three-year-old here trying to understand why he isn't being punished for being bad. You just want to huggle him and sing him a lullaby or something. Yet, later, he uses "I" when he is speaking with Frodo, so you can see that that part of his personality has been healed and restored -- the sense of self that is so unique to sentiate beings. And I thought it sweet (and very telling) that he still refers to Frodo as "Master" not only when he first "wakes up" but later at the Feast. There are too many favorite images to list them all but I think my particular favorite is the conversation between Sméagol and Atar when Atar shows him scenes of how others -- Aragorn, the Elves of Mirkwood, Gandalf, Frodo and Sam -- had treated him, not evilly as he wanted to imagine, but with kindness and even with love, though at the time he did not understand this. Anyway, a marvelous piece of writing and if this is the kind of writing you do when your computer crashes, may it crash more often. LOL (Just kidding). Great job, Larner. I'm glad to be a humble instrument of inspiration for you. Thank you for sharing your wonderful visions of Atar's love for even those whom we, in our ignorance and folly, would dismiss as unredeemable. The parable of the lost sheep is very apt here. Author Reply: I'm certain that Manwe's herald would feel an affinity with the King Returning as well as with the Ringbearer, and would walk as guard to both. Smeagol has, after all, just awakened; he needs time to adjust. He's been Gollum for so long--to accept that he is being restored to Smeagol as he was intended to be would probably take some getting used to, I'd think. By the time he and his family join the Feast, there would be a good deal of integration. However, Frodo was as much his Master in his mind as he was to Samwise, even when Sam had proven himself Frodo's equal and in some ways his superior. I think both would cling to that relationship with the Hobbit who taught them so much about how to live for quite some time. And Smeagol is seeing the caring that was there all along, the caring the Ring obscured from him, as it would cultivate the illusion that all are there to hurt and trick and cheat him as much as possible. Its power over Its victims was strongest when It could keep them emotionally isolated and wary of others, after all. Gollum was totally necessary to the success of the quest; in the end he didn't seek to claim the Ring--merely to possess It once again; and as Frodo saw fit to forgive him, I can't imagine Eru would do any less. So glad you also feel that parable is apt. I just had to work the lullaby in here, though, as well as Lindelea's Feast and Soledad's city. Heh!

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 3/29/2008
My special brother... Wouldn't that have been nice if Smeagol had made it into the Light at last and embraced by the One and one he had hurt and helped save. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I only hope that it DID happen, Antane. He had helped to save all of Middle Earth; and along the way he'd found some of his courage again, some of his love of the natural world had been returned to him, and he'd learned to love and respect others again, even if the Shadow of the Ring lay upon him and marred those advances. Once It was destroyed and Its Shadow was finally lifted, wouldn't he now be open to the fuller Love that had formed him and wished to see the Lost restored? So glad you could read it! And a joyful Alleluia to you!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 3/29/2008
That was simply great, Larner! It is so very easy to forget about Smeagol after he slipped and fell into the fire, taking the Ring with him. It was the last time that the Ring betrayed him, but it was the best that could have happened! Without him the quest would have failed, and it is only right to call him a hero. It's interesting to see the similarities of his first reunion with Deagol and then with Frodo. Both of them adress him with nearly the same words: Thank you for saving me! And when I think it over, I come to the same conclusion. That's exactly what he did. He murdered Deagol, that should not be forgotten. But he was driven by the Ring to do it. And he suffered for what he had done for more than a normal lifetime. I loved the discussion between Frodo and The Voice, which is the voice of Eru Himself, I believe. Even Eru has to admit that Frodo is indeed a "stubborn one". He stubbornly refuses to accept that he did all he could to complete his task. Last, but not least: The Feast! Dreamflower called it a "Eucatastrophe". I think she's right! These lost ones are restored fully to their heritage now. Frodo and Smeagol, dancing the Husbandman's Dance, that's a sight to behold! Thank you very much :) Author Reply: Oh, I so hope that the wandering Stoors who returned to the valley of the Anduin did manage to find their way to Lindelea's Feast, too; and who better to see them led to it than Olorin? One of my favorite movie images from FoTR is Frodo cutting a caper to the admiring glances of a couple of Shire maidens, and that image keeps creeping into my stories. That he would, in the throes of gladness, seek to dance and draw others into the dancing with them, including the finally recovered Smeagol, seemed so logical! And Gollum was as necessary to the final destruction of the Ring as were Frodo and Sam. Gollum endured the worse-than-death from which he saved Deagol, and saved Frodo from worse still, no matter how selfish his own motivations. And thank YOU for your comments--I so appreciate them!

Rhyselle	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 3/29/2008
I have a slew of housework to do today but I just had to tell you how very much I loved this story. And, not to put down the parts about Frodo and Sam and Pippin, but what got me most was the wonderful bits about Smeagol finding himself in the arms of Eru, and coming to realize that he was loved and redeemed. The fact that he could feel remorse for the things he'd done in his life was so touching, and when Deagol thanked him, I just wanted to cry with joy. It's so easy to dismiss Gollum at the end of ROTK, forget about him as being nothing more than an obstacle to Frodo and Sam... when, in the end, he was the linchpin that made the success of the quest possible. I've never managed to get into Gollum's head--probably because I never really wanted to. But by this tale, you've got me seeing him in a whole new light--and I don't mean to make a pun of that. Smeagol is a Child of Eru, and thus, worthy of redemption. You make it possible for us to see the tiny seeds of light that were still buried deep within him that kept him from being entirely lost. He did not claim the Ring as Frodo did... and by that all were saved even as he fell into the Fire. Incredible, wonderful tale! Well done! Author Reply: That Gollum didn't claim It but merely danced with joy to possess it physically once more just seemed important. I doubt Eru would wish to lose a single one of His children; and this one He'd used perhaps somewhat cruelly and thus deserved to find his way back to the Creator's arms. Perhaps because I have been suffering the results of some of my stupider choices as well as the caprices of a sometimes difficult world I found getting into Gollum's head easier as I wrote this one. This is the story that changed completely as I was forced to rewrite it, I found, the original having been lost when the laptop froze up and ended up needing to be powered down completely before I could get back in there and fix things up. Thank you, Rhyselle.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 3/29/2008
Oh, Larner...oh wow! There's so much to love here! Man, how do you do it? Is there some secret to getting such a wide range of emotions and, indeed, lessons into a single short story? grins Kidding. Sort of. Not really, just about the secret part--it's talent, possibly more than talent, and I know it. :) But you really do give "short story" a new meaning for me. I used to say I hated writing them because they have to be short (who'd have thought?) and you couldn't explore every aspect of character and plot and all that...I still don't write them much, but your own shorter works have been a great inspiration to experiment. (Add a high school class where I had to write them, and I had it made. :)) Okay, to the story itself...sorry. :) I always enjoy looks at Frodo and Sam being brought back and immediately after, and this is no exception. (Er, yes, best not mention to Frodo certain aspects of being unconscious and very week, good man...and Maia. :)) Loved Pippin here too, and Gandalf's "hush, sweetling..." sniff Love the rejoicing when Frodo moved on his own! :) And Pippin, oh, dear sweet Pippin wanting to let Merry think he hadn't wakened till Merry himself was awake to see! Truly something it would take our beloved Took to do. :) Smeagol's reunion with his family and conversation with Iluvatar made me cry. That was extremely touching and...I don't know, in my earliest days of being a part of the LOTR fandom, before I knew that Tolkien hated alegory and had no intentions of including it, my mom read an article aloud to me about one of the movies (from a Christian magazine she used to get) and it said something about Gollum representing someone who is spiritually lost. So I'd never wanted to consider what Smeagol found beyond the fire. This makes sense, and is much sweeter to me, I think (your interpretation, I mean). Frodo's entire bit was wonderful and very interesting. Goodness gracious, now he wants to be in two places at once--protecting the Shirefolk and carrying the Ring to Mordor? Bless his heart! And as sober as the whole section was, I did have to smile at the comment about "the glory of being the one who died to destroy it." We tend to forget that we all have our weaknesses, huh? And the end...Oh, the end! It couldn't be better! I cried again here; this is one of your endings that left me unable to do anything else, one that's so happy it made my heart feel as if it would burst. My favorite little bit of it, though, was Sam filling Smeagol's plate. Peace at last! How wonderful! :) Now must go and attend to my own project (incidentally a short story intended for a writing contest); I'm quite inspired now. :) God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I am honored, my Lady. There must have been several procedures used on many of those who survived the battle by the skin of their teeth they'd never wish to know of; and for someone as private as I see Frodo having been, someone with that particular native dignity, to think he'd had to been cleaned up and possibly diapered like a babe in arms--and other things--would have been very troubling, I'd think. Of course Merry would wish to be the one to be there when Pippin first awoke; to have missed that would be terribly disappointing, and Pippin would know this about his beloved cousin's heart. I can't imagine Pippin doing anything else BUT asking Gandalf pretend this particular awakening hadn't officially happened so that Merry could be aware of it when he does. As for Frodo--his protective streak has been exploited by the Ring, after all; and now he has to face the fact that others also need to know they were useful in facing evil, and that he could only do the task appointed to him and no more. And sometimes what one thinks of as glorious needs to shown for what it is--vanity and a right nasty business that's terribly difficult and destructive. And I wished to explore what might have been given Gollum. If Eru can use even our weaknesses to His purposes, how would He have greeted this long-strayed sheep? And of COURSE Sam would fill Smeagol's plate! How else would he face this moment? He was born to be a guardian and a nurturer himself, after all! Now, to see the results of your own endeavors. Too bad you couldn't see the first attempt at this story--MUCH shorter and from a completely different POV! But it was LOSSSSTTTTT!

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 53 on 3/28/2008
I...I..I... Oooooh!!!! Love, love, love this Larner. Lovely!! Author Reply: Thank you, Tigger! I'm honored!

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